It has been said that March “comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb,” but the truth is that its transition from frozen to fair rarely follows a straight line. In fact, its weather patterns tend to be quite rollercoaster-like. Take for instance, the weather in the Northeast of late: a few springlike days were just followed by a late season blizzard and there have even been a few instances where temperatures have gone from wintery to warm (or vice versa) and back again over the course of just a few hours.
Needless to say, these erratic swings make it hard to know how to dress appropriately on many a March morning. If you don a heavy parka in the a.m. will you be sweating in it or needlessly lugging it around by lunchtime? Conversely, you may find yourself shivering in the light jacket you chose to wear to work by the time closing time rolls around.
This is exactly why puffer and other winterlike vests are often perfect outerwear options this time of year. Stylish and sleeveless, they offer plenty of warmth – but not too much of it. Many are also lightweight and easily packable should you need to shed them temporarily during a spell of sunshine.
Here are 15 of my favorite outerwear vest options currently available in a variety of prices from low to luxurious. And since spring literally is around the corner, a few are already majorly discounted, which makes them even a wiser (ahem) in-VEST-ment.
HIGH ALPINE VEST BY AZTECH MOUNTAIN $486.50
QUILTED VEST BY BILLY REID $129.50
B-3 SHEARLING VEST BY COCKPIT USA $700
STACK DOWN VEST BY DESCENDANT OF THIEVES $198
FEATHERWEIGHT QUILTED VEST BY EXLEY $275
WESTERN VEST IN FADED NAVY/KHAKI BY FAHERTY $198
BISE VEST IN NAVY/MANUKA BY FINISTERRE $99.98
ROGUE VEST IN MILITARY BY IRON AND RESIN $64.98
CHRISTOPHER DOWN VEST BY NORTH SAILS $150
PRECISION INSULATOR VEST BY OBERMEYER $109
MEN’S LEATHER VEST BY SCHOTT NYC $700
NYLON ULTRA LIGHT DOWN-FILLED SILVERADO VEST WITH HOOD BY SCHOTT NYC $145
BIG BEND DOWN VEST IN GHURKA/NAVY CANTEEN STRIPE BY STAG X FAHERTY $100
ULTRA LIGHT DOWN VEST BY UNIQLO $39.90
DEBAR WOOL VEST IN TAN/BROWN BY UNITED BY BLUE $99.98
